FILMED IN HI8 AT ELVINTON AIR SHOW IN 2002, ONE OF THE LAST " SONGS" FROM THE FIREBIRD ON THE AIRSHOW CIRCUIT, VERY GREATLY MISSED. THIS VIDEO IS UNDER COPYRIGHT TO JETNOISEFOERVER.
Wonderful memories of Elvington! The F3 or GR4 was always the highlight for me and it was a sad day when it ceased along with our other smaller shows. Thanks for posting!
A great jet, to the critics it did what it was designed for, not for dogfighting, our NATO allies in Europe and the Grim Reapers were equipped for that. It was designed for long combat air patrols over the sea attacking out of visual range any Soviet aircraft that got through Europe or came over the top. As this display shows it was still no slug! The best I remember was a six ship launch by 5 sqn at Coningsby early one morning. I had a heavy cold at the time, boy those vibrations cleared my chest congestion for the rest of the day.
I was privileged to work on the airfield at Coningsby during 56 Sqn' s time as the F3's OCU, and of course had plenty of opportunities to watch the practice displays. So far, I just think that the F3 display was much more exciting, spectacular than the Typhoon's ( which I also get to see everyday ) . Controversial : ) That final flyby......Wow!!! This is a classic vid. Many thanks.
I fell out of the sky five times over Elvington in 1977/78.......how careless is that ! There were occasionally Jaguars and Jet Provosts parked on the ramp in those days, and we had to have extra insurance in case we landed on one and bent it.
